The Golden Trailer Awards are an American annual award show for film trailers founded in 1999. The awards also honor the best work in all areas of film and video game marketing, including posters, television advertisements and other media, in 108 categories.
It has been called "the Hollywood Awards show for the post-MTV era" and by its founders as celebrating "the people who condense 120 minutes into a two-minute minor opus."
Overview The 1st Golden Trailer Awards ceremony was held on September 21, 1999, in New York and had 19 categories. This jury consisted of Quentin Tarantino, Stephen Woolley, United Artists executive Jeff Kleeman, and Miramax executive David Kaminow. The cofounders, sisters Evelyn Watters and Monica Brady, promoted their inaugural festival by screening the nominated trailers inside a gold-painted Airstream trailer at the 2000 Sundance festival.
The ceremonies moved to Los Angeles in 2002. Notable jurors in subsequent years have included Pedro Almodovar, Joel Siegel, Ben Stiller, Benicio Del Toro, Glenn Close, and Brett Ratner; along with actors and directors with international profiles, such as Matt Smith, Navid Neghaban, Dayyan Eng, Archie Kao, Annemarie Jacir, Rob Savage, and Paula Van der Oest. Even as the ceremonies have expanded to include 108 categories (show and non-show), they have made a point of remaining short (at 70 minutes) — like the works they are recognizing. All editions have been broadcast online; more recent years have been televised on various networks including HDNet, ReelzChannel and Fox's MyNetworkTV.
Notable additions to the award list include the "Golden Fleece" award, given to the trailer that gives a bad movie the most appeal. Executive Director Evelyn Watters describes it as celebrating the "pure art of cutting"; Executive Producer Monica Brady describes it as recognizing "a great trailer for a movie that is not so great." It has also been called "the most anticipated [award] of the evening."
Hosts for the awards ceremonies have included Kathy Griffin (2002), Dennis Miller (2003), Tom Green (2004), Sinbad (2008), Natasha Leggero (2011), TJ Miller (2015) and Wayne Brady (2016, 2017). The award was designed by artist Jim Bachor.
The 9th Annual Golden Trailer Awards (broadcast as the Movie Preview Awards on MyNetworkTV), in 2008 were at the Orpheum Theatre in Los Angeles. The Dark Knight won three awards: Best Action, Best Summer Blockbuster Poster and Trailer of the Year in the public vote held by USA Today.
The 19th annual awards ceremony was held on May 31, 2018, at the Theater at Ace Hotel in Los Angeles. Michelle Buteau was host and master of ceremonies, and the presenters included Kate Flannery, Lea DeLaria, Yvette Nicole Brown, Nicole Sullivan and Missi Pyle. Paul Dergarabedian of comScore presented the Box Office Weekend Award (The Bow) to Avengers: Infinity War for the highest three day gross between May 1, 2017, and April 30, 2018.
The 26th annual awards were held at the Saban Theatre in Beverly Hills on May 28, 2026, and were hosted by comedian Morgan Jay. The Project Hail Mary trailer won Best of Show, while AV Squad was named Agency of the Year.
1999 The 1st Golden Trailer Awards were held in 1999, the winners were: Best Action: The Matrix Best Animation/Family: A Bug's Life Best Art Commerce: The Matrix Best Comedy: Austin Powers: The Spy Who Shagged Me Best Documentary: Return with Honor Best Drama: Good Will Hunting Best Edit: The Matrix Best Foreign: Three Seasons Best Horror/Thriller: The Blair Witch Project Best Music: Out of Sight Best Romance: Great Expectations Best Trailer – No Budget: For Return of the Masterminds Best Voice Over: The Blair Witch Project Best of Show: The Matrix Best of the Decade: Se7en Most Original: Run Lola Run The Dark and Stormy Night: 8MM Trashiest: Cruel Intentions Golden Fleece: 8MM
2000s Note: no ceremony was held for the year 2000.
2001 The 2nd Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2001, winners are listed as follows: Best Action: Gone in Sixty Seconds tied with Vertical Limit Best Animation/Family: Chicken Run Best Art and Commerce: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon Best Comedy: Best in Show Best Documentary: Running on the Sun: The Badwater 135 Best Drama: Gladiator (for the teaser) Best Foreign: Billy Elliot Best Horror/Thriller: Unbreakable (for the teaser #1) Best Music: Almost Famous Best Romance: Crouching Tiger, Hidden Dragon (for the trailer) Best Trailer – No Budget: The Big Split Best Trailer – No Movie: "AKA" Best Voice Over: Valentine Best of Show: Requiem for a Dream Most Original: Book of Shadows: Blair Witch 2 The Dark and Stormy Night: Hollow Man Trashiest: A Table for One Best Title Sequence: Bedazzled Golden Fleece: Hollow Man
2002 The 3rd Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2002, the winners were: Best Action: A Knight's Tale Best Animation/Family: Monsters, Inc. Best Comedy: The Royal Tenenbaums Best Documentary: Go Tigers! Best Drama: Memento Best Foreign: Amelie Best Independent: Series 7: The Contenders (for the redband trailer) Best Music: The Royal Tenenbaums Best Romance: Moulin Rouge! (for "Love Story") Best Trailer – No Movie: "Wedding Album" Best Voice Over: Spider-Man Best of Show: The Royal Tenenbaums Most Original: Memento Trashiest: Series 7: The Contenders (for the redband trailer) Best Horror/Thriller: Panic Room Best Title Sequence: ? Golden Fleece: The Business of Strangers
2003 The 4th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2003, the winners were: Best Action: The Lord of the Rings: The Two Towers (for "Sacrifice") Best Animation/Family: Spirited Away Best Comedy: About Schmidt (for the teaser) Best Documentary: Bowling for Columbine Best Drama: The Hours Best Foreign: Read My Lips Best Horror/Thriller: The Ring Best Independent: Read My Lips Best Music: About Schmidt (for the teaser) Best Romance: Secretary Best Trailer – No Movie: "Twelve Twisted Tricks" Best Voice Over: About Schmidt (for the teaser) Best of Show: About Schmidt (for the teaser) Most Original: The Ring Trashiest: The Rules of Attraction Golden Fleece: Blue Crush
2004 5th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2004, the winners were: Best Action: Charlie's Angels: Full Throttle Best Animation/Family: Harry Potter and the Prison of Azkaban (for the teaser #2) Best Comedy: Elf Best Documentary: Spellbound Best Drama: The Lord of the Rings: The Return of the King (for the trailer #1) Best Foreign: Osama Best Foreign Independent: City of God Best Horror/Thriller: Dawn of the Dead Best Independent: Lost in Translation Best Music: The Triplets of Belleville Best Romance: The Cooler Best Trailer – No Movie: "Revolver" Best Voice Over: 21 Grams (voice over talent: Sean Penn) Best Show: The Stepford Wives (for the teaser) Most Original: The Stepford Wives (for the teaser) Summer 2004 Blockbuster: The Stepford Wives (for the teaser) Trashiest: A Miami Tail Golden Fleece: Northfork
2005 6th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2005, the winners were: Best Action: War of the Worlds Best Animation/Family: The Incredibles (for "Buckle Up") Best Comedy: Napoleon Dynamite Best Documentary: Fahrenheit 9/11 Best Drama: Collateral Best Foreign: House of Flying Daggers (original title Shi mian mai fu) Best Foreign Independent: House of Flying Daggers (original title Shi mian mai fu) Best Horror: The Amityville Horror (for "Get Out") Best Independent: I Heart Huckabees Best Music: Garden State (for the trailer) Best Romance: A Very Long Engagement (original title Un long dimanche de fiancailles) Best Thriller: Open Water Best Trailer – No Movie: Empire Design (for "Fela Kuti") Best Video Game Trailer: Medal of Honor: Pacific Assault Best Voice Over: The Motorcycle Diaries (original title Diarios de motocicleta) Most Original: The Hitchhicker's Guide to the Galaxy Summer 2005 Blockbuster: War of the Worlds Trashiest: A Dirty Shame Golden Fleece: White Noise
2006 7th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2006, the winners were: Best Action: Mission: Impossible III Best Animation/Family: Harry Potter and the Goblet of Fire Best Comedy: Wedding Crashers(for "The Masters") Best Documentary: March of the Penguins (original title La marche de l'empereur) Best Drama: Good Night, and Good Luck. Best Foreign Action Trailer: District B13 (original title Banlieue 13) tied with Oldboy (original title Oldeuboi) Best Foreign Comedy Trailer: FC Venus Best Foreign Dramatic Trailer: Paradise Now Best Foreign Romance Trailer: The Tiger and the Snow (original title La tigre e la neve) Best Horror: The Exorcism of Emily Rose Best Independent: Transamerica Best Music: Happy Feet Best Romance: Pride & Prejudice Best Sound Editing in a Trailer: Domino (for the teaser #1) Best Thriller: Match Point Best Titles in a Trailer: Brick Best Trailer – No Movie: 5-25-77 (original title '77) Best Video Game Trailer: The Godfather Best Voice Over: March of the Penguins (original title La marche de l'empereur) Best Show: Mission: Impossible III Most Original: Thank You for Smoking Most Original Foreign Trailer: Look Both Ways Summer 2006 Blockbuster: Mission: Impossible III Trashiest: Survival Island (original title Three) Golden Fleece: Into the Blue Special Audience: Beer League (for the trashiest trailer)
2007 8th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2007, the winners were: Best Action: 300 Best Documentary: This Film Is Not Yet Rated Best Independent: The Science of Sleep (original title La science des reves) Best Thriller: The Descent Best of Show: 300 Trashiest: Another Gay Movie Golden Fleece: Fur: An Imaginary Portrait of Diane Arbus Summer Blockbuster: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix
2008 9th Golden Trailer Award ceremony was held in 2008, the winners were: Best Action: The Dark Knight Best Action Poster: Resident Evil: Extinction Best Action TV Spot: The Bourne Ultimatum (for "I Remember") Best Animation/Family: Enchanted Best Animation/Family Poster: Shrek the Third (for the teaser poster) Best Animation/Family TV Spot: Harry Potter and the Order of the Phoenix (for "Great Wizards") Best Anime Trailer: Doctor Strange Best Comedy: Tropic Thunder Best Comedy Poster: Step Brothers (for the one sheet) Best Comedy TV Spot: Harold & Kumar Escape from Guantanamo Bay (for "Campaign") Best Documentary: Where in the World Is Osama Bin Laden? Best Documentary Poster: Religious (for "Toast") Best Drama: No Country for Old Men Best Drama Poster: The Assassination of Jesse James by the Coward Robert Ford (for the one sheet) Best Drama TV Spot: There Will Be Blood (for "Music Review") Best Foreign Action Trailer: Revolver Best Foreign Comedy Trailer: My Best Friend (original title Mon meilleur ami) Best Foreign Drama Trailer: When Did You Last See Your Father? (original title And When Did You Last See Your Father?") Best Foreign Horror/Thriller Trailer: The Eye 3 (original title "Gin gwai") Best Foreign Romance Trailer: Paris, je t'aime (for "The Dance") Best Horror: I Am Legend Best Horror Poster: The Eye (for the one sheet) Best Horror TV Spot: Saw IV (for "Clown Blinks") Best In-Theater Advertising: Mad Men Best Independent Poster: Before the Devil Knows You're Dead Best Independent Trailer: Day Night Day Night Best International Poster: Trade Best Motion/Title Graphics: Hitman Best Music: The Diving Bell and the Butterfly (original title Le scaphandre et le papillon) Best Romance: Atonement Best Romance Poster: 27 Dresses (for the one sheet) Best Romance TV Spot: 27 Dresses (for "Invite Event") Best Sound Editing: I Am Legend Best Summer 2008 Blockbuster Poster: The Dark Knight (for the teaser) Best Summer 2008 TV Spot: Wanted (for "Choice Revised") Best Teaser Poster: Fantastic 4: Rise of the Silver Surfer (for the teaser) Best Thriller: Vantage Point